Window blind lock



Sept. 30, 1947. c. c. MCD NALD 2,428,170

wmnow BLIND L'o'cK Filed Dec. 17, 1945 Patented Sept. 30, 1947 UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE 2,428,170 WINDOW BLIND LOCK Charles C. McDonald,Houston, Tex.

Application December 17, 1945, Serial No. 635,568

4 Claims. 1 This invention relates to a window blind lock. An object ofthe invention is to provide means for retaining orlocking the lower endof a window blind, particularly a Venetian blind, at any point ofadjustment of the blind sothat the blind will not be free to movelaterally, that is outwardly, or inwardly, relative to the windowcasing.

Another object of the invention is to provide, in a combination with awindow casing, vertical tracks, or guides, with means carried by thelower end of the window blind and movable in said guides and operativeto lock, or release, the blind so that it may be maintained in positionor adjusted up or down.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a locking device ofthe character described which may be easily manipulated to locked, orreleased, position.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from thefollowing specification which is illustrated by the accompanyingdrawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary elevational view of a window casing, windowand blind illustrating the locking device installed.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view taken on the line2-2 of Figure 3.

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational view.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 44 of Figure3; and

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the locking element.

In the drawings the numerals l, I designate the side members of thewindow casing on the facing sides of which the vertical channels 2, 2are secured. These channels are preferably formed of sheet metal withthe margins of their flanges over turned inwardly, as more clearly shownin Figures 2 and 4.

The numeral 3 designates a window blind, a conventional type of Venetianblind being shown which has the conventional bottom rail 4.

At each end the rail has a longitudinal bore 5 in which there is fitteda suitable metal bushing 6 to receive the balancing pins 1, 1 whoseouter ends are formed with spherical heads, as 8.

Each head 8 is located in a cup-like socket member 9, as more clearlyshown in Figure 2. The open ends of these socket members are directedoutwardly toward the channels 2 and extend into said channels and areretained therein by means of ring nuts [0 which are screwed onto theends thereof.

On the inner sides of the respective ring nuts It! and located withinthe corresponding channels and in contact with the inner sides of theover turned margins of the flanges of said channels and fitted aroundthe socket members 9 are the annular slides ll whose free margins arecurved outwardly, as also shown more clearly in Figure 2.

The numerals l2 designate substantially rectangular outer slides whichsurround the socket members 9 and which ride on the outer sides of theinwardly turned margins of the flanges of the channels 2 and theseslides l2 have the inner longitudinal ribs l3 which fit between saidover turned margins.

As will be noted from an inspection of Figure 2 the inner end of eachsocket member 9 has an external annular flange M and surrounding saidsocket member and bearing against the outer side of said flange there isan annular locking element l5 having the outwardly extended grip l6.

Between the outer slides l2 and the corresponding locking elements [5and surrounding the socket members 9 there are the coil springs [1.

Each locking element [5 has the side cams 18, I8 which are over turnedat substantially right angles to the plane of the body of said lockingelement and when the window blind lock is in released position thesecams will embrace the corresponding slides 12 and the slides H and I2will not grip the over turned margins of the flanges of the channels 2so that the window blind may be readily moved up or down but when inthis released position the blind will be maintained against lateralmovement relative to the window casing so that should the window sashIll be raised the window blind will not be substantially displaced bythe wind.

Should it be desired to lock the blind in position the grips [6 may beused to turn the locking elements IS a quarter turn and the cams l8 willride upon the corresponding ends of the slides l2 thus forcing the innerand outer slides II and i2 into gripping relation with the inwardlyturned margins of the flanges of the channels 2.

Upon a quarter turn of the locking elements l5 back to original positionthe slides will release said inwardly turned margins thus allowingadjustment of the blind.

What I claim is:

1. The combination with vertical channels forming tracks and whose sideflanges are turned inwardly toward each other, said tracks being adaptedto be secured to the facing sides of a window casing, of a window blindhaving a lower end rail, means carried by the ends of the rail andconnected to and slidable relative to the tracks, said means includingslides on the inner and outer sides of said overturned margins, and camsoperable to actuate the slides into clamping relation with saidoverturned margins.

2. The combination with vertical channels forming tracks and whose sideflanges are turned inwardly toward each other, said tracks being adaptedto be secured to the facing sides of a window casing, of a, window blindhaving a lower end rail, means carried by the ends of the rail andconnected to, and slidable relative to, the tracks, said means includingslides on the inner and outer sides of said overturned margins, and camsoperable to actuate the slides into clamping relation with saidoverturned margins, or to release said slides from said margins.

3. The combination with vertical channels forming tracks, the margins ofwhose side flanges are inwardly turned, of a window blind, means on theblind in engagement with the tracks and slidable along the tracks andincluding clamps, and means to actuate the clamps into clamping relationwith said inturned margins.

, 4. The combination with vertical channels the slides to clamp saidmargins and into another position to release said slides to allow therail to move along said tracks.

CHARLES C. MCDONALD.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,723,095 Tate Aug. 6, 1929Lidback Nov. 13, 1894

